Dental Crown
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What is a dental crown?
Dental Crowns are a treatment used to protect a weak, damaged or decayed tooth and give the look of a natural tooth that matches the rest of your teeth. Dental Crowns are also often called ‘caps’ and are in simple terms are a strong, hollow tooth shaped cover for your damaged or worn tooth.
Top 4 Reasons for needing a Dental Crown
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Big cavities leading to weakened tooth structure that can no longer contain a filling.
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To cover a tooth that has been root canal treated (this will protect the tooth as after root canal treatment it is weaker)
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To protect and support a tooth that has been cracked
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To restore a broken or worn tooth with a functional and aesthetic look.
What to Expect at Crown Appointments
If having a Dental Crown, you will require two visits:
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1) Crown Preparation - where the Dentist will make the existing tooth about to be crowned ready for the procedure. This will involve some reshaping of the tooth and a digital scan or impression will be taken which will be sent to the laboratory in order for them to make your new crown. The Dentist will also take the shade of your surrounding teeth to ensure that the Dental Crown is the right colour match for your teeth and looks as natural as possible.
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2) Approximately two weeks later, you will have your second appointment, which is known as your Crown Fit. This is usually a shorter appointment when your new crown will be fitted over the prepared tooth and any small, necessary adjustments are completed. By the end of the visit your crown will be in place and you will again have a great, natural looking strong ‘tooth’!
Implications of Waiting
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The tooth could chip- simple repair. Or it could crack and would need a crown.
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Waiting could cause a root canal to be needed.
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The tooth could split, which could require crown lengthening or extraction.
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Nothing will happen if minimize the use of the tooth